Common Causes and Simple Cures for Dry Hair

When you want fierce hair, you’re willing to try any hair care technique to make it happen. After a few weeks of primping, washing and styling, you notice your hair is crunchier than a bag of potato chips. Unbeknownst to you, your everyday habits have zapped all of the moisture right out of your tresses.

Common Dry Hair Offenders

The most common causes of parched hair are universal. So no matter what hair type or texture you have, the culprit can usually be tied to either your daily hair care routine, the kind of food you eat, the type of products you use or the amount of time you spend outside or some combination of all of these issues.

Too much shampooing. Washing your hair every day can strip away the natural oil and leave your hair feeling like straw.

Routine heat styling. Blow drying, hot curling and flat ironing your hair several times per week will fry your ends and cause them to dry out and split.

Using alcohol-based products. Hair care companies often add alcohol to hair products as a thickening agent. The problem with this is that once this substance is applied to your hair, alcohol will evaporate and take the moisture in your hair with it.

Using chemical treatments. Using perms, dyes and other harsh chemicals on your hair alters the structure and makes your tresses more susceptible to dryness and other damage.

Overexposure to the sun. Prolonged exposure to UV rays can weaken your hair and make is more vulnerable to drying and splitting.

Chlorine in swimming pools. Chlorine is added to pools to disinfect the water and keep bacteria at bay. When you expose your hair to too much of this chlorine, it will strip the natural oils from your scalp and causes over drying.

Poor nutritional habits. A junky diet cheats your scalp out of the nutrients it needs to produce the natural oils that keep the hair moisturized.

No-nonsense Solutions to Dry Hair

You’re not doomed to suffer the fate of dry hair for the rest of your life. These simple techniques will help replenish moisture and send parched hair packing.

Cut back on washing. Instead of shampooing your hair daily, do it twice a week. If your hair gets oily between washes, sprinkle a little dry shampoo or a sulfate free solution like Keranique’s Scalp Stimulating Shampoo and brush the residue out with a natural bristle brush.

Ditch the harsh shampoos. Use a mild shampoo that’s specifically formulated for dry hair. These types of products have fewer drying agents, so they won’t leech the natural oils from your scalp.

Use a moisturizing conditioner. After you shampoo your hair, apply a moisturizing conditioner. A moisturizing conditioner will replenish moisture in your hair to keep it soft and manageable. Conditioners differ by brand, so follow the manufacturer’s instructions as to how long to leave it on.

Apply coconut oil. Rub a little coconut oil on your hair and scalp two to three times a week to help replenish lost moisture. If you don’t have coconut oil, jojoba oil works just as well.

Improve your diet. Eating foods rich in zinc, iron, omega 3 and vitamin A will stimulate your scalp and help it produce oils that naturally lubricate your hair strands. In addition, drink plenty of water to help banish dryness and keep the hair looking vibrant.

If you continue to have dry hair after trying the solutions above, talk to your hair stylist to see if he or she can recommend treatments, conditioners or other hair products to help. In some cases, dry hair can be the result of an underlying medical condition. If your stylist’s recommendations don’t help, contact a physician to rule out more serious issues.